Health Information Technology Program
The health information technology program prepares students for a career working in health care and other settings where health information is utilized. A student graduating with a degree in Health Information Technology from Del Mar College is well prepared to assume an entry level position in this professional field. Specifically, program outcomes are designed to assure that graduates of the program will be prepared to demonstrate:
- essential professional and technical knowledge, skills and competencies fundamental to the health information management profession;
- effective written and oral communication skills;
- skills in using resources and technology;
- problem solving, team work and critical thinking skills.
Health Information Technology (HIT) AAS graduates perform a variety of technical health information management functions including organizing, analyzing, and technically evaluating health information; compiling administrative and health statistics; and coding diseases, operations, and other procedures. Responsibilities also include maintaining and using a variety of health information indices, special registries, storage and retrieval systems, inputting and retrieving computerized health data, and controlling the release of health information. The majority of health information practitioners work in acute care hospitals, ambulatory, long-term, and mental health facilities, state and federal agencies, insurance companies, and colleges.
Graduates of the AAS degree are eligible to take certification examinations administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and upon successfully passing the examinations, you obtain the credentials as a Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT) and/ or Coding Specialist Associate (CCA). Del Mar College Health Information Technology AAS program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
All students (part- and full-time) in the associate degree HIT program must complete 256 hours of clinical practice experiences in healthcare institutions. Those who work are encouraged to plan ahead before enrolling in the clinical practice courses.
Transfer and returning students may be required to pass a challenge exam in lieu of enrolling in HIT courses whose credits are more than three years old. For additional information regarding admission and/or continued enrollment in the program, contact the HIT program director.
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